Grants and Awards
Awards
2023 J. G. Russel Award, The Australian Academy of Sciences. $2000 towards supporting research for my DECRA fellowship. Press release here.
2022 People’s Choice Award for Best Presentation at the Research School of Biology’s Early to Mid-Career Researcher Conference, Australian National University.
2020 Research School of Biology Outstanding Thesis Prize, Australian National University. One per year across three departments. Includes $2000 prize.
2020 Finalist for the J. G. Crawford Prize for best PhD thesis at the Australian National University. Two per year across the University.
2019 Australasian Evolution Society Research Award and Student Plenary. AES meeting registration waiver and special 20 min plenary talk.
2018 Peter Rawlinson Prize for Best Spoken Presentation by a PhD student (Australian Society of Herpetologists).
2018 Finalist for the W.D. Hamilton Award (Society for the Study of Evolution). Evolution meeting registration waiver and $500 travel stipend.
2016 EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) Course on Molecular Evolution selected trainee.
2014 Hirota Naora Award for Best Conference Presentation (Research School of Biology Postgraduate Conference): $650 for conference travel.
Grants and scholarships
2023 Fondecyt Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) from the Chilean government for my project entitled “The evolution of venom and its role in shaping biodiversity”. This includes three years of salary plus research money which combined amounts to $89,220,000 Chilean pesos (roughly $170,000 AUD). Declined to take Lectureship at the University of Wollongong instead.
2023 Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) Fellowship from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for my project entitled “The evolution of venom and its role in shaping biodiversity”. This includes three years of salary plus research money which combined amounts to $387,373.
2022 BioPlatforms Australia’s Australian amphibian and reptile genomics initiative (AusARG) funding for two plates of sequencing at Diversity Arrays for a phylogeographic study of the Liasis complex.
2021 ANU’s Research School of Biology Seed Grant worth $3,096 for venom mass spectrometry experiment.
2021 BioPlatforms Australia’s Australian amphibian and reptile genomics initiative (AusARG) funding for two plates of sequencing at Diversity Arrays for a phylogeographic study of the Morelia spilota complex.
2020 Contributed to writing the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant “Biological diversification in across
Australia across space and time” with Prof. Scott Keogh. $471,000 which includes my postdoc salary for two more years.
2017 Contributed to writing the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant “Drivers of convergent evolution across Australia’s arid landscape” with Prof. Scott Keogh. $432,000 which included my postdoc salary for two years.
2016 ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Programme - Student Travel Grant: $1,650
2016 ANU Vice-Chancellor's HDR Travel Grant: $1,500
2015 ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Programme – Student Travel Grant: $825
2015 Australian Society of Herpetologists Research Grant: $1,500
2014 Becas Chile-CONICYT Doctorado en el extranjero: full tuition, living expenses and additional costs for four year overseas PhD program (aprox. $250,000)
2014 ANU Vice-Chancellor's HDR Travel Grant: $1,000
2013 American Museum of Natural History Collection Study Grant: $1,000
2013 Peter Rankin Trust Fund for Herpetology Research Grant, The Australian Museum: $1,000
2013 ACT Herpetological Association Research Grant: $1,200
2012 Becas Chile-CONICYT Magister en el extranjero: full tuition, living expenses and additional costs for two year overseas Masters program (aprox. $125,000)
2023 J. G. Russel Award, The Australian Academy of Sciences. $2000 towards supporting research for my DECRA fellowship. Press release here.
2022 People’s Choice Award for Best Presentation at the Research School of Biology’s Early to Mid-Career Researcher Conference, Australian National University.
2020 Research School of Biology Outstanding Thesis Prize, Australian National University. One per year across three departments. Includes $2000 prize.
2020 Finalist for the J. G. Crawford Prize for best PhD thesis at the Australian National University. Two per year across the University.
2019 Australasian Evolution Society Research Award and Student Plenary. AES meeting registration waiver and special 20 min plenary talk.
2018 Peter Rawlinson Prize for Best Spoken Presentation by a PhD student (Australian Society of Herpetologists).
2018 Finalist for the W.D. Hamilton Award (Society for the Study of Evolution). Evolution meeting registration waiver and $500 travel stipend.
2016 EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) Course on Molecular Evolution selected trainee.
2014 Hirota Naora Award for Best Conference Presentation (Research School of Biology Postgraduate Conference): $650 for conference travel.
Grants and scholarships
2023 Fondecyt Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) from the Chilean government for my project entitled “The evolution of venom and its role in shaping biodiversity”. This includes three years of salary plus research money which combined amounts to $89,220,000 Chilean pesos (roughly $170,000 AUD). Declined to take Lectureship at the University of Wollongong instead.
2023 Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) Fellowship from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for my project entitled “The evolution of venom and its role in shaping biodiversity”. This includes three years of salary plus research money which combined amounts to $387,373.
2022 BioPlatforms Australia’s Australian amphibian and reptile genomics initiative (AusARG) funding for two plates of sequencing at Diversity Arrays for a phylogeographic study of the Liasis complex.
2021 ANU’s Research School of Biology Seed Grant worth $3,096 for venom mass spectrometry experiment.
2021 BioPlatforms Australia’s Australian amphibian and reptile genomics initiative (AusARG) funding for two plates of sequencing at Diversity Arrays for a phylogeographic study of the Morelia spilota complex.
2020 Contributed to writing the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant “Biological diversification in across
Australia across space and time” with Prof. Scott Keogh. $471,000 which includes my postdoc salary for two more years.
2017 Contributed to writing the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant “Drivers of convergent evolution across Australia’s arid landscape” with Prof. Scott Keogh. $432,000 which included my postdoc salary for two years.
2016 ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Programme - Student Travel Grant: $1,650
2016 ANU Vice-Chancellor's HDR Travel Grant: $1,500
2015 ABRS National Taxonomy Research Grant Programme – Student Travel Grant: $825
2015 Australian Society of Herpetologists Research Grant: $1,500
2014 Becas Chile-CONICYT Doctorado en el extranjero: full tuition, living expenses and additional costs for four year overseas PhD program (aprox. $250,000)
2014 ANU Vice-Chancellor's HDR Travel Grant: $1,000
2013 American Museum of Natural History Collection Study Grant: $1,000
2013 Peter Rankin Trust Fund for Herpetology Research Grant, The Australian Museum: $1,000
2013 ACT Herpetological Association Research Grant: $1,200
2012 Becas Chile-CONICYT Magister en el extranjero: full tuition, living expenses and additional costs for two year overseas Masters program (aprox. $125,000)
Education
2015-2019: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Evolution, Ecology and Genetics at The Australian National University. Thesis supervisor: Prof. J. Scott Keogh.
2013-2015: Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Evolution, Ecology and Genetics at The Australian National University. Thesis supervisor: Prof. J. Scott Keogh.
2007-2011: Licenciatura en Ciencias Biologicas (four year degree in Biological Sciences). Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
2013-2015: Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Evolution, Ecology and Genetics at The Australian National University. Thesis supervisor: Prof. J. Scott Keogh.
2007-2011: Licenciatura en Ciencias Biologicas (four year degree in Biological Sciences). Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
Employment history
2023-Onwards: Lecturer in Biological Sciences at the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong.
2019-2023: Postdoctoral Researcher supported by ARC Discovery Grants in the Keogh Lab, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University.
2018: Reptile expert for Bush Blitz survey in the ACT, Australia. Employed by the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) for 14 days.
2018-onwards: Photography Instructor for workshops and photo safaris across the world, at the NatureArt Lab Art School. https://natureartlab.com.au/collections/courses/products/the-theory-art-and-practice-of-nature-photography-with-damien-esquerre
2013-2019: Demonstrator, tutor and guest lecturer for 13 courses taught by the Research School of Biology, at the Australian National University.
2016: Researcher/Fact Checker for National Geographic’s programs “Survive the Wild”, “World of the Wild” and “Animal Armory”. Employed by WildBear Entertainment in Australia. http://www.natgeotv.com/za/shows/natgeowild/survive-the-wild
January-April 2012: Field and lab assistant in a project studying diverse aspects involving the presumptive parental care in the Andean lizard Liolaemus leopardinus. Employed by Professor Stanley Fox from Oklahoma State University.
2012: Zoological Environmental Impact Evaluation for Ambientologia Ltda. At Minera Valle Central. I surveyed vertebrate fauna and evaluated the potential impact development would have on the surrounding ecosystem.
2011-2012: Zoological Environmental Impact Evaluation for Macrocap S.A. at Teno River. I surveyed vertebrate fauna to evaluate the ecological impact a hydroelectrical power central would potentially have on the ecosystem.
2009-2012: Research Collaborator in the Zoology Section of the Natural History Museum of Chile. Employed by Professor Herman Nuñez, museum curator of herpetology. Doing taxonomy and systematic research involving lizards of the Liolaemus genus.
2019-2023: Postdoctoral Researcher supported by ARC Discovery Grants in the Keogh Lab, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University.
2018: Reptile expert for Bush Blitz survey in the ACT, Australia. Employed by the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) for 14 days.
2018-onwards: Photography Instructor for workshops and photo safaris across the world, at the NatureArt Lab Art School. https://natureartlab.com.au/collections/courses/products/the-theory-art-and-practice-of-nature-photography-with-damien-esquerre
2013-2019: Demonstrator, tutor and guest lecturer for 13 courses taught by the Research School of Biology, at the Australian National University.
2016: Researcher/Fact Checker for National Geographic’s programs “Survive the Wild”, “World of the Wild” and “Animal Armory”. Employed by WildBear Entertainment in Australia. http://www.natgeotv.com/za/shows/natgeowild/survive-the-wild
January-April 2012: Field and lab assistant in a project studying diverse aspects involving the presumptive parental care in the Andean lizard Liolaemus leopardinus. Employed by Professor Stanley Fox from Oklahoma State University.
2012: Zoological Environmental Impact Evaluation for Ambientologia Ltda. At Minera Valle Central. I surveyed vertebrate fauna and evaluated the potential impact development would have on the surrounding ecosystem.
2011-2012: Zoological Environmental Impact Evaluation for Macrocap S.A. at Teno River. I surveyed vertebrate fauna to evaluate the ecological impact a hydroelectrical power central would potentially have on the ecosystem.
2009-2012: Research Collaborator in the Zoology Section of the Natural History Museum of Chile. Employed by Professor Herman Nuñez, museum curator of herpetology. Doing taxonomy and systematic research involving lizards of the Liolaemus genus.
Teaching
Course design and leadership
2018-onwards: The Theory, Art and Practice of Nature Photography. NatureArt Lab. I personally designed this whole course which involves six three-hour theory sessions, and a full day field and computer based practical. I teach this twice a year to a usually full cohort of 12 students.
2018-onwards: The Secrets of Macro Photography. NatureArt Lab. I personally designed this whole course which happens during a full day including lectures and field and computer hands-on exercises. I teach this twice a year to a usually full cohort of 12 students.
Guest lecturer
2022: Australian National University Extension Program. I gave a guest lecture on the introduction of phylogenetic reconstruction, comparative methods and their application on studies of biodiversity, using pythons as an example.
2018-2019: Big Questions in Biology (BIOL3201), The Australian National University. I gave a guest lecture based on my research on adaptations to cold climates and high mountains.
2015-2016: Australian Vertebrates (BIOL2111), The Australian National University. I gave guest lectures based on my research on convergent evolution.
Tutor
2018. Vertebrate Biology (BIOL3114), The Australian National University. I mentored groups of students on how to find and read research publications, interpret the results and present them to a broader audience. I then assessed them on their presentations.
2018-2019. Big Questions in Biology (BIOL3201), The Australian National University. I guided students on critical thinking, writing essays and challenging ideas in biology. I later assessed them on presentations, essays and reports.
2017-2019. Research Proposal for Masters Students (BIOL8700), The Australian National University. I guided Masters students on writing their research proposal for their project next semester, which involved providing intense feedback on their written proposal and oral presentations throughout the semester.
Lab demonstrator
2018-2019. Human Biology (BIOL1008), The Australian National University. Lab demonstrator through different practicals involving physiological experiments.
2017-2018. Evolution (BIOL2114), The Australian National University. I guided students on how to perform different statistical, evolutionary and phylogenetic comparative methods in R. I also marked their lab reports.
2017. Experimental Design and Analysis in Biology (BIOL2202), The Australian National University. During lab practicals I instructed and assisted students in experimental design and execution, and eventually data collecting. Then, during computer practicals I helped students perform univariate and multivariate statistical analyses.
2015-2018. Diversity of Life (BIOL1009), The Australian National University. I demonstrated and assisted students in practicals involving animal and plant dissections, microscopy and specimen preparation.
2015. Human Physiology (BIOL2103), The Australian National University. I demonstrated for students during lab practicals involving physiological experiments.
2013-2016. Australian Vertebrates (BIOL2111), The Australian National University. I demonstrated students during practicals involving examination of different vertebrate specimens and classification of them and inferring ecology from their morphology.
2013-2019. Principles of Genetics (BIOL2151), The Australian National University. I demonstrated and guided students on how to perform molecular lab work, such as DNA extraction, amplification and gel electrophoresis, followed by population genetic analyses of allelic frequencies.
2013-2015. Molecular and Cell Biology (BIOL1004), The Australian National University. I taught and guided students to perform several standard laboratory procedures, such as bacterial cultures, PCR, enzyme assays and microscopy.
2013-2018. Evolution, Ecology and Genetics (BIO1003), The Australian National University. I mentored and guided students both in laboratory procedures and also in field ecology, assisting them to design an experiment from data collecting to analysis.
Workshop teaching
2023. Leveraging morphological and genomic data to elucidate evolutionary patterns, The Australian National University and CSIRO. I co-taught a workshop with Emma Sherratt and Mario dos Reis, with me focusing on morphometric data acquisition.
2019. Presentation Skills Workshop, The Australian National University. I taught a half day hands-on tutorial to making short flash animations to enhance scientific presentations, aimed at the PhD students of the department.
2018-onwards: The Theory, Art and Practice of Nature Photography. NatureArt Lab. I personally designed this whole course which involves six three-hour theory sessions, and a full day field and computer based practical. I teach this twice a year to a usually full cohort of 12 students.
2018-onwards: The Secrets of Macro Photography. NatureArt Lab. I personally designed this whole course which happens during a full day including lectures and field and computer hands-on exercises. I teach this twice a year to a usually full cohort of 12 students.
Guest lecturer
2022: Australian National University Extension Program. I gave a guest lecture on the introduction of phylogenetic reconstruction, comparative methods and their application on studies of biodiversity, using pythons as an example.
2018-2019: Big Questions in Biology (BIOL3201), The Australian National University. I gave a guest lecture based on my research on adaptations to cold climates and high mountains.
2015-2016: Australian Vertebrates (BIOL2111), The Australian National University. I gave guest lectures based on my research on convergent evolution.
Tutor
2018. Vertebrate Biology (BIOL3114), The Australian National University. I mentored groups of students on how to find and read research publications, interpret the results and present them to a broader audience. I then assessed them on their presentations.
2018-2019. Big Questions in Biology (BIOL3201), The Australian National University. I guided students on critical thinking, writing essays and challenging ideas in biology. I later assessed them on presentations, essays and reports.
2017-2019. Research Proposal for Masters Students (BIOL8700), The Australian National University. I guided Masters students on writing their research proposal for their project next semester, which involved providing intense feedback on their written proposal and oral presentations throughout the semester.
Lab demonstrator
2018-2019. Human Biology (BIOL1008), The Australian National University. Lab demonstrator through different practicals involving physiological experiments.
2017-2018. Evolution (BIOL2114), The Australian National University. I guided students on how to perform different statistical, evolutionary and phylogenetic comparative methods in R. I also marked their lab reports.
2017. Experimental Design and Analysis in Biology (BIOL2202), The Australian National University. During lab practicals I instructed and assisted students in experimental design and execution, and eventually data collecting. Then, during computer practicals I helped students perform univariate and multivariate statistical analyses.
2015-2018. Diversity of Life (BIOL1009), The Australian National University. I demonstrated and assisted students in practicals involving animal and plant dissections, microscopy and specimen preparation.
2015. Human Physiology (BIOL2103), The Australian National University. I demonstrated for students during lab practicals involving physiological experiments.
2013-2016. Australian Vertebrates (BIOL2111), The Australian National University. I demonstrated students during practicals involving examination of different vertebrate specimens and classification of them and inferring ecology from their morphology.
2013-2019. Principles of Genetics (BIOL2151), The Australian National University. I demonstrated and guided students on how to perform molecular lab work, such as DNA extraction, amplification and gel electrophoresis, followed by population genetic analyses of allelic frequencies.
2013-2015. Molecular and Cell Biology (BIOL1004), The Australian National University. I taught and guided students to perform several standard laboratory procedures, such as bacterial cultures, PCR, enzyme assays and microscopy.
2013-2018. Evolution, Ecology and Genetics (BIO1003), The Australian National University. I mentored and guided students both in laboratory procedures and also in field ecology, assisting them to design an experiment from data collecting to analysis.
Workshop teaching
2023. Leveraging morphological and genomic data to elucidate evolutionary patterns, The Australian National University and CSIRO. I co-taught a workshop with Emma Sherratt and Mario dos Reis, with me focusing on morphometric data acquisition.
2019. Presentation Skills Workshop, The Australian National University. I taught a half day hands-on tutorial to making short flash animations to enhance scientific presentations, aimed at the PhD students of the department.
Editorial roles and memberships
I am an Editor in Chief and founder member of the herpetological naturalist journal Boletín Chileno de Herpetología.
I am an Associate Editor of of the Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile.
I am a member of the IUCN Snake Specialist Group.
I am an Associate Editor of of the Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile.
I am a member of the IUCN Snake Specialist Group.
Public outreachI have given interviews regarding my research findings for TV, radio, newspaper and magazines, including outlets such as ABC Australia, IFLScience, The Canberra Times, Nature Research, Cosmos Magazine, Science Update, and all of Chile’s major newspapers (El Mercurio, La Tercera, LUN, etc…)
2019. Interviewed for Latin American science Television program for kids, “Dino Exploradores”, aired in 2022, on their episode about Smilodon and the Great American Exchange. 2017-2019: Host for the National Youth Science Forum of Australia at the Research School of Biology, The Australian National University. 2018-2020. Guest lectures at Lake Ginninderra College Canberra, Australia. 2016-2018. Consultant for Spain’s Antena 3 channel’s TV show “Boom” 2017. Reconstricting the coils of the evolution of pythons: the world’s largest snakes. Oral presentation to a general audience for Darwin Day in Questacon Science Museum, Canberra, Australia. 2017. Snake presentation and public talk about my research at Euroscience week in Questacon Science Museum. 2017. One of my photos of a reticulated python was chosen to be published in a postcard for Australia’s National Science Week, together with a summary of my research. 2016. My research was chosen to be featured in the Australian National Science Week’s “Colab: Science Meets Street Art”, where a big mural graffiti of a green python (Morelia viridis) was painted in Canberra by artist Smalls. |
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